The OSB Sole & Small Firm Practitioners Section website has been updated and now offers a number of new features, including expanded member database functionality, user accounts for every section member, and a more robust calendar feature.
The updated member database contains a clickable map of Oregon delineating each county. A click on a specific county links to a page which contains a listing of all section members practicing in that county (it is also possible to access county information by using the drop down menu). Each attorney listing contains contact information, a link to the firm website and, when activated, a link to a member profile. In addition, each county page contains a drop down menu of common practice areas which, when selected, links to a list of section members who practice in that particular area. These features were included to better serve the referral and marketing needs of section members.
Beginning on August 5th, SSFP section members may log onto the SSFP website to activate their online account and add content to their member profile. An online profile provides an easy way for section members to locate other member attorneys for practice area referrals. Members will receive an e-mail from webmaster, Chris Gent (gentweb.net), which contains a user name and password, both of which are required to access member accounts. In order to reduce duplicate feature requests, a phase-in schedule for accessing user accounts has been implemented. Members are asked not to attempt to access the system until their appointed log in date:
- August 5 – Last names that begin with letters B – F (*members with last names beginning with “A” should have already received a user name and password and may log in at any time)
- August 12 – Last names that begin with letters G – L
- August 19 – Last names that begin with letters M – R
- August 26 – Last names that begin with letters S – Z
Members who have not received a user name and password by their log in date or who are having trouble accessing the system should contact webmaster Chris Gent at support@osbssfp.org
Other questions may be directed to Janice Hazel at jlhazel@hazellawportland.com
Recent Developments: Regulation and Taxation of the Life Settlement Industry
by Troy E. Thompson (1)
Like all catastrophes, the market turmoil of 2008-09 will produce winners as well as losers. With conventional portfolios depleted, and with some overly excitable pundits sounding the death knell of modern portfolio theory, one aspiring winner is the growing market for life insurance policies, known as life settlement.
Life settlement is the purchase of an in-force life insurance policy by an unrelated investor, who expects to profit at the death of the insured by collecting more than she paid to acquire and maintain the policy. Such a buyout can represent a genuine boon for seniors who no longer need life insurance or can’t afford the premium anymore, and who might otherwise expect to recover only the cash surrender value of the policy. Investors are attracted to life settlements as an asset class for their supposed non-correlation—proponents tout relative immunity from stock market volatility and the uncertain credit markets. Other market participants are less enthusiastic. Read More »
March 21, 2010 – 11:48 am
HOW DO I GET THE MOST OUT OF USING A CONTRACT ATTORNEY?
Submitted by: Heidi Strauch
The first step in getting the best results from using a contract attorney is to choose the right one (or ones) to hire. Whom do you trust to be competent, fit well within your firm culture, be honest, serve your clients better, and increase your profit? Once you’ve chosen a contract attorney, the most effective tool for getting the most out of the relationship is to identify and communicate clear expectations. This article provides tips on how to find the right contract lawyer and what issues to consider as you articulate your expectations. Read More »
March 21, 2010 – 11:48 am
Vetting Foreign Attorneys: How Do You Say “Surprise” in Spanish?
Submitted by: Raoul Rodríguez-Walters, CFP®
What do you know about foreign legal systems and attorneys practicing abroad?
Like most, probably not much. Yet when a client needs legal help in a different country they often look first to their US attorney for a recommendation. And what do we do? If we do not have someone already in mind our inclination is to seek a referral, maybe from one of the list serves, and send it along to the client. We can do better than that. The first question to ask is what qualifies the referral to practice law? The answer may come as a surprise. Read More »
March 21, 2010 – 11:43 am
Getting Help with Office Bookkeeping
Submitted by: Belinda Bixby
So when are you going to get help with your bookkeeping?
It is natural to resist investing in a bookkeeper and bookkeeping software if you are not required to do so. But the cost of errors and oversights can be far greater. And that’s not just the money, but reputation, image, credit rating, and ultimately your business itself.
You tell your clients that investing in a lawyer can save them in the long run. The same applies for you and bookkeeping. You are an attorney. That’s where your talent lies. You did not put in all of that time and effort obtaining your degree and building your practice to now spend it wrestling with your bookkeeping. Read More »
TIPS, SITES and GADGETS – sponsored by the Professional Liability Fund and featuring Dee Crocker and Beverly Michaelis, PLF practice management advisors. 1.5 General/Practical Skills Credits. Includes tips to keep your office up-to-date and running smoothly, useful Web sites and resources, and gadgets that any lawyer can use to improve his or her practice. Registration $15 (includes lunch.) Program runs from 12:00 pm to 1:30 pm on the dates noted below. Check-in at 11:45 am.
This traveling CLE will be taken throughout the state, beginning next month. Cities and dates include: Read More »
Financial Management 101
By Beverly Michaelis, Professional Liability Fund Practice Management Advisor
According to the American Psychological Association almost three-quarters of adults report that money is a “very significant” source of stress. Add the pressure of running your own law practice, and financial worries can quickly spiral out of control.
How can you get on track? Meet your goals? Create a vision for the future? It starts with planning and a little number-crunching. Read More »
Kathy Evans, President, OSB Board of Governors, has issued the following statement in response to our section’s request for immediate action on the issue of equitable BarBooks pricing among Oregon lawyers: Read More »
February 18, 2010 – 1:40 pm
Please consider running for one of the 45 House of Delegates seat vacancies. Read More »
February 2, 2010 – 3:15 pm
In response to inquiries from the SSFP membership, the SSFP Executive Committee recently posed the following questions to the OSB Publications department. The responses, provided by Publications Manager, Linda Kruschke, follow each question.
1. What was the selection criteria for the 59 “new members” who received complimentary BarBooks subscriptions in 2009?
All new admittees receive a coupon that they can redeem for a complimentary 6-month subscription. The 59 new members who had complimentary subscriptions at the end of 2009 were those who returned the coupon. This offer was created as a marketing tool to help new members become acquainted with BarBooks. As of Dec. 31, 2009, there were 12 BarBooks paid subscribers who were renewals of previous complimentary subscriptions. Read More »